A 143-m wire is cut into three pieces. The second piece is 3 m longer than the first. The third is four-fifths as long as the first. How long is each piece?

Solution:

First piece: x

Second piece: x+3

Third piece: 0.8x

x+ (x+3) + 0.8x =143

x =50

First piece: 50 m

Second piece: 53 m

Third piece:  40 m